Canadian Museum of History signs collaboration agreement with Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, June 18, 2014 — The Canadian Museum of History is pleased to announce that it will be collaborating with the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA) in the development of its new Canadian History Hall. Currently under development, the Hall will be the largest and most comprehensive exhibition about Canadian history ever created. It will also be the most inclusive.

The Museum and the CLGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 18, 2014 in Toronto in order to advance research and consultations between the two institutions, and to shed light on the particular history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Canadians within the new Canadian History Hall. This partnership will better enable the Museum to explore the national historical narrative from the multiple perspectives, events and personalities that have shaped our country, within a comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the national stories that matter most to Canadians.

Canadians all across the country told the Museum through engagement sessions that the LGBTQ+ history is a theme that people hope to see in the new Canadian History Hall.

The Museum of History is reaching out to various organizations across the country to ensure the new hall is inclusive and to ensure the story is told from multiple perspectives. From the outset of the project, the Museum has been working with six advisory groups made up of historians, museologists and Aboriginal leaders from across the country. These collaborations allow the Museum to continue to engage with Canadians from coast to coast.

“The Canadian History Hall will tell the story of Canada and its people from multiple perspectives, reflecting the diversity of our population and the evolution of our attitudes,” said Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History. “The Museum is pleased to work with the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives to add an important voice to that narrative.”

“The stories of LGBTQ+ individuals and the roles they have played in building the nation of Canada deserve not only recognition, but also celebration,” said Robert Windrum, President of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives. “We are proud to partner with the Canadian Museum of History and applaud their exemplary efforts at representing the diversity of history found in the collective stories of Canada’s LGBTQ+ communities.”

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered. Q+ is now commonly added to the initials to encompass others who do not self-identify as heterosexual.

The Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives (CLGA) is the largest independent LGBTQ+ archives in the world. With a focus on Canadian content, the CLGA acquires, preserves and provides public access to information and archival materials in any medium. By collecting and caring for important historical records, personal papers, unpublished documents, publications, audio-visual material, works of art, photographs, posters, and other artifacts, the CLGA is a trusted guardian of LGBTQ+ histories now and for generations to come.

The Canadian History Hall will open on July 1, 2017 when Canadians mark the 150^th anniversary of Confederation. The Canadian History Hall will be the largest, most comprehensive permanent exhibition on Canadian history ever developed. It will present the events, experiences, people and artifacts that reflect and have shaped, and continue to shape, our country. The exhibition will be authentic and artifact-rich, will be based on the latest research and will explore Canadian history through the experiences and perspectives of those who lived it. As it develops the exhibition’s content, the Museum is seeking input from a wide range of groups and individuals with specialized knowledge and historical materials, such as the CLGA.

Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Canadian Museum of History is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum’s principal role is to enhance Canadians’ knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the events, experiences, people and objects that have shaped Canada’s history and identity, as well as to enhance Canadians’ awareness of world history and culture.

–­ 30 –­

Media contacts: